UPDATE: I finally got it working! After trying literally everything suggested here, what ended up working was using my phone but turning OFF wifi and using cellular data instead. For some reason that made the CAPTCHA appear! I was able to certify for this week. Thank you all for your help and suggestions. If anyone else runs into this problem, try connecting through your cellular network instead of wifi!

Wow, what a journey this thread has been! I'm so glad you finally got it working @Yara - the cellular data trick is brilliant and makes total sense given what @Amina explained about IP address issues. I'm bookmarking this thread because I have a feeling this CAPTCHA problem is going to keep happening to people until NYSDOL properly fixes their system. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions and workarounds here - this is exactly the kind of community help that makes a difference when dealing with government tech issues!

wait so if extended benefits arent available you just get nothing?? that seems really unfair, people are still unemployed even if the state's unemployment rate goes down. this whole system is backwards

You might also want to check if you qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or any other federal programs, though most of those have ended. Another option is to look into job training programs through the NYS Department of Labor - some of them provide stipends while you're learning new skills. The One-Stop Career Centers can help connect you with these resources. Also consider gig work or part-time employment to bridge the gap - you can sometimes still collect partial unemployment benefits if your earnings are low enough. It's tough but there are usually some options even when regular benefits run out.

I had the exact same problem a few months ago! What worked for me was going through the my.ny.gov portal and using the "Account Recovery" option instead of just the PIN reset. It walks you through verifying your identity with multiple pieces of information (SSN, DOB, address, etc.) and then lets you create a completely new PIN. It took about 10-15 minutes but was way better than trying to get through on the phone. Just make sure you have all your personal info handy when you start the process.

I went through this exact same situation a couple weeks ago! One thing that helped me was making sure I was using the right browser - some people have issues with the my.ny.gov site on certain browsers. I had to switch from Chrome to Firefox to get the reset process to work properly. Also, if you're still getting stuck on security questions, try thinking about what answers you might have used back in October when you first set up the account - sometimes we use slightly different versions of the same answer (like "Main St" vs "Main Street"). Clear your browser cache before trying again too, that seemed to help with some of the technical glitches I was having.

Keep in mind that if you do qualify for a new benefit year, your weekly benefit amount might be different since it's calculated from your most recent wage history. Also make sure you're still meeting all the job search requirements even between claims.

@Mateo Sanchez - I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. First thing you should do is log into your my.ny.gov account and check your "Benefit Year" dates - it'll show when your current benefit year ends. If it's been a full year since you first filed, you might be eligible for a new benefit year if you worked enough during that time. The key is whether you have sufficient wages in quarters that weren't used for your original claim calculation. Even if you only worked part-time or had a brief job during your benefit year, those wages could potentially qualify you for a new claim. Don't give up - many people don't realize they might be eligible for a second benefit year!

The whole system is rigged against small businesses IMO. We pay these huge taxes and then when we actually need to contest a fraudulent claim it takes months to get through to anyone at NYS Department of Labor. Meanwhile our rates keep going up because of claims we shouldn't even be charged for!

For what it's worth, you can also appeal your experience rating if you think it's incorrect. I had to do this once when claims from a previous business acquisition were incorrectly attributed to our account. The process isn't fun but it's possible to get adjustments made. Just make sure you have good documentation of your payroll and employment records. The key is understanding that the system is meant to be self-balancing - employers who rarely have claims subsidize those who have more frequent layoffs.